Access Tools
Cost
Full Price $30.00
Concession $25.00
Hump Day Discount $22.50
Fringe Member Discount $22.50
Blak Tix $10.00
Group 6+ $27.50
Booking required
When
October 7, 2026
Wed - Sat 9:30pm
Sunday 8:30pm
Where
: 54 Victoria St, Carlton VIC 3053
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Dean Nash spent years trying to dance to everyone else’s tune. Drama school, musical theatre and the endless pressure to appear “normal” taught him that fitting in was often rewarded more than being himself. Turns out that’s exhausting.
Dean, Don’t Dance! is a funny, heartfelt and defiantly joyful solo cabaret exploring disability identity, internalised ableism and the lifelong process of learning to stop apologising for who you are. Through original songs, stories and just enough theatrical chaos, Dean unpacks the expectations he placed on himself and the strange ways we all learn to perform for the world around us.
Blending musical theatre, comedy and contemporary cabaret, Dean, Don’t Dance! is both deeply personal and universally relatable. Whether you’ve spent your life masking or just trying to fit in, this show invites you to laugh, reflect and embrace your wonderfully imperfect self.
Created and performed by disabled artist and creative access specialist Dean Nash, the production places accessibility at the centre of the experience, integrating creative audio description and shadow Auslan interpretation into the performance itself. Rather than being separate services, access becomes part of the storytelling, creating a shared experience for disabled and non-disabled audiences alike.
Warm, witty and packed with original music, Dean, Don’t Dance! celebrates disability culture, community and the radical act of being unapologetically yourself.
"This is definitely worth your time." ★★★★ (Limelight)
"A master of storytelling... People lucky enough to catch this show are very unlikely to ever forget it." (Theatre Travels)
"Dean Nash is a top notch talent, charming vulnerable, optimistic, and forthright.... A work that galvanises as well as entertains" (Australian Arts Review)
Accessibility
Event Access
Dean, Don’t Dance! features integrated creative Audio Description and Auslan interpretation. Audio Description is embedded into the performance and is heard by the whole audience, so no headset or additional equipment is required.
Audience members requiring Auslan access are encouraged to identify their access requirements when booking so they can be seated with a clear view of the interpreter.
Venue Access
Trades Hall has step-free access via the main Lygon Street entrance, with a wheelchair lift into the building and internal lift access. Accessible bathrooms are available. Guide dogs and assistance animals are welcome.
There is no dedicated onsite parking. Metered street parking is available around Trades Hall, including an accessible parking bay on Victoria Street. Accessible drop-off and pick-up is available via Byron Street, close to the venue entrance.
Bus routes 200 and 207 stop at Trades Hall/Lygon Street, approximately 25 metres from the main entrance. The Queensberry Street/Lygon Street stop is approximately 170 metres away. Most buses on these routes have low-floor or ramp access, although accessibility can vary. Melbourne Central Station is approximately 800 metres from Trades Hall and has accessible platforms and lift access to street level.
For assistance with the wheelchair lift or venue access, contact the Trades Hall Duty Manager on 0451 232 089.
Event type
by Deaf and/or disabled artists
For bookings and information on specific access and transport.
Location
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